Yee-haw! On Sept. 20, Liberty Science Center traveled back to the Old West for LSC After Dark: Whiskey in the Wild West, our latest LSC After Dark event for guests 21 and over.

It was a night filled with whiskey, hoedowns, and more. Guests received free bandanas at the door before immersing themselves in activities and experiments inspired by the American frontier.

Over in the Hoppity Hops race, guests jumped onto bouncy animals and hopped their way across the room.

Outside, guests tested each other to see who could milk cows the fastest at the Cow Milking Challenge.

Upstairs at the Snake Venom Lab, guests learned about venomous snakes and the effect that snake venom has on your blood.

In the Gold Sifting Lab, guests learned how to distinguish between fool’s gold and real gold.

A guest sifts for gold

The drinks were a big hit! Visitors enjoyed whiskey tastings from Misunderstood Whiskey, Stranahan’s Whiskey, Westland Whiskey, and Bruichladdich Whiskey, brought in part by Jersey City Super Buy-Rite.

Guests also enjoyed delicious drinks at the Specialty Whiskey Bar, with drinks that included the Bourbon Cowboy, Apple Pie, and Fireball Sangria.

Midnight Market returned this month, serving delicious $5 food plates from local vendors.

All the exhibitions were open for guests to explore, including the Touch Tunnel, Infinity Climber, Wonder Why, Wildlife Challenge. It was also the last chance for guests to experience our premium exhibition, Grossology, an entire exhibition about the science of all things gross.

With autumn upon us, we opened up our popular fall/Halloween activity, the Spider Maze! Guests navigated their way through our 40,000-sq-ft immersive maze, solving a puzzle and learning about spiders along the way.

Westworld fans were in for a treat, too. Our MakerLab team used 3D printers to recreate Ford’s office from Season 1. Guests took photos and learned about the methods of 3D printing from our MakerLab professionals.

And of course, the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium and LSC Giant Dome Theater was open! Guests enjoyed a journey through the solar system or a western-themed laser show in the biggest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere.

Over on the dance floor, guests rocked out with DJ Mavric all night.

Thanks to everyone who came out!

Now it’s time to get spooky for LSC After Dark: Monster Masquerade on Oct. 18, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm! Be there as monsters take over the Science Center for one thrilling night that includes horrifying labs and adventures, costume contests, drink tastings, and more. Click here for tickets.